Man Shot Dead at Paris Police Station on Anniversary of Charlie Hebdo Attack

Toronto, ON, Canada / Talk Radio AM640

Posted: January 07, 2016 08:50 am

Police have shot dead a man who they say tried to enter a Paris police station with a knife and “fake” suicide vest, exactly one year after the Charlie Hebdo attack.

Police say it was around noon, and almost to the minute, when last year’s attack on the satirical magazine took place when the man tried to enter the station and was shot.

Witnesses said he shouted “Allahu Akbar” before police opened fire.

Bomb disposal teams and anti-terrorism investigators responded to the scene. Through their investigation, it was discovered the man was wearing a pouch under his coat with a wire hanging from it, but contained no explosives.

The interior ministry said the man had attempted to attack an officer at the station reception.

Four shots were fired, and police shut down the vacinity, warning residents to stay away from their balconies and close their windows.

The incident happened as President François Hollande was finishing a speech to police and security services about the fight against terrorism in Paris.

Eleven people were killed when two French-born brothers stormed the building where Charlie Hebdo operated, as well as a Muslim policeman outside on this day in 2015.

Over the next two days, an accomplice shot a policewoman to death, then opened fire at a kosher supermarket, killing four hostages. All three gunmen died following the attack.

France has been on high alert ever since the terror attacks that week, and was struck again November 13th by extremists dispatched by the Islamic State group.

A number of assailants, armed with guns and bombs, launched six attacks across the city, killing 129 people and leaving dozens injured.